French Leader Chirac, Bush Speak by Phone

EMMANUEL GEORGES-PICOT

Published 8:00 pm, Monday, April 14, 2003

Associated Press Writer

French President Jacques Chirac, seeking to repair ties frayed by the Iraq war, spoke with President Bush for the first time in more than two months Tuesday and appeared to temper earlier demands that the United Nations be at the center of Iraq's reconstruction.

Chirac called Bush and told him in a 20-minute telephone conversation that France is willing to adopt a "pragmatic approach" on postwar issues, said the French leader's spokeswoman, Catherine Colonna.

Among the issues cited by Chirac were Iraq's administration and reconstruction, its rich oil resources, international sanctions still in place against Iraq and plans for an interim government, Colonna said.

Chirac also told Bush he welcomed the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime and the brevity of the war. He also expressed condolences for American deaths in the conflict.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer called the conversation "businesslike."

He said the two leaders agreed Syria should not harbor Iraqi leaders, and they discussed Iraq reconstruction and Mideast peace. Colonna said Chirac quizzed Bush about his intentions toward Syria and expressed hope "that nothing happens to increase tensions in the region."

They also talked about the G-8 summit in June. Bush scrapped a planned visit to Canada on May 5 so he could monitor Iraq developments, but still plans to attend the G-8 summit in Evian, France, Fleischer said.

It was the second clear signal in recent days that the French leader wants to repair damage done to relations with Washington by their conflicting views of the Iraq war. France led European opposition to the U.S.-led military campaign, sparking anger and boycotts of French products in the United States.

Chirac, according to his spokeswoman, told Bush that his view on the need for the war remain unchanged.

But he appeared to soften his view of the postwar situation. Notably absent from Colonna's account of the phone call were earlier demands from Chirac that the United Nations get a "central role" in post-Saddam Iraq.

Instead she said that the United Nations should be involved "as soon as possible." She did not use the word "central."

"France believes that the international community should give itself the best possible chance and thus make room for the United Nations as soon as possible," Colonna said. "It's in the interests of everyone."

She described the two leaders' conversation as "positive." Chirac's office said it was the first time the two men had spoken since Feb. 7, before relations soured when France said it would veto a U.S.-backed resolution at the U.N. Security Council authorizing the use of force against Iraq.

Chirac first signaled Saturday that he hopes to mend ties with Washington, saying: "We can rebuild our unity around the values that all great democracies share."